InfoJack Trojan burrows into Windows CE machines

China syndrome - for now

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Miscreants have created a Trojan capable of infecting mobile devices running Windows CE.

The InfoJack Trojan spreads by either tricking mobile users into installing seemingly legitimate application installation files or if punters inadvertently use an infected memory card on vulnerable devices. The malware has been spotted circulating in China.

InfoJack disables Windows Mobile application installation security. It sends the infected device's serial number, operating system, and other information to the author of the Trojan (a factor that explains the name of the malware). Infected devices are left vulnerable to the injection of further malware strains by allowing unsigned applications to be installed without a warning.

Once infected, the homepage on a device's browser is changed. The malware contains a number of features designed to frustrate clean-up efforts by copying itself back onto disk to protect itself from deletion.

Internet security firm McAfee warns that the Trojan has been distributed with Google Maps, applications for stock trading, and games. It adds that the Trojan's website is no longer reachable, due in part to an investigation by Chinese law enforcement officials.

InfoJack is not unprecedented. A very small number of PocketPC viruses have been created over the last four or five years and, in at least one case, a Trojan capable of infecting Windows CE (Brador-A) has been seen in the lab.

InfoJack differs from its predecessors because it's been spotted in circulation, albeit to a modest extent. The spread of the malware provoked security clearing house US CERT to issue an alert. ®